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Show 130 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [ BULL. 75 the sick by the aid of supernatural power but who gave herb medicines in connection with the treatment. She said that she usually sang these songs when the sun was at a height corresponding to about 10 o'clock in the morning. The special efficacy of her songs was said to consist in their power to counteract an evil influence produced by some other person. Mrs. Washington had been treating the sick for about four years prior to the recording of her songs and said that " a spirit'' told her what to do. This spirit was represented by an eagle. In summoning her to treat a sick person, the messenger formerly brought a tail feather of an eagle, but recently she had required that he bring a downy white eagle feather, as she believed that her power was increased by this feather. If she were not at home, the messenger left the feather, on which there was no mark of any kind. Her friends told her who required her services and when she received the message she went at once to the sick person, taking with her the feather which had accompanied the request. She also held this feather in her hand during the treatment. Arrived at the home of the sick person, she " prayed to the eagle" before beginning her treatment, which was described as follows: The sick person was placed in a reclining position and she sat beside him, placing her forehead against that portion of his body where pain was felt. Sometimes she took earth and rubbed it on the patient's body, " working downward toward the feet." This earth was not prepared in any way but was used " just as it was picked up." During this treatment she sang the six recorded songs in the order in which they are herewith presented. If the patient were very ill, she used a plant which she obtained from the Shoshoni, but she valued this so highly that she used it only for those who were closely related to her. She stated that by means of this plant she once cured her daughter, who was almost in a dying condition. No specimen of the plant was available for identification, but the woman stated that she used the root in powdered form and also had " three little round red things," which were part of the plant. These were said to resemble a walnut but were smoother than a walnut and red in color. They were pierced with a hole so that they resembled large beads. The sick person was required to place one of these in his mouth and " draw air through the hole." This was used with all her medicinal herbs. The roots of various herbs were used by her in her treatment. These roots were powdered and prepared with water, the mixture being administered by dipping a " little stick" in it and applying the stick to the patient's tongue. As she gave the herb medicine she " prayed to the eagle." She said that when this treatment was administered the patient was sure to recover. |